Likes

[Raymott]

We have changed the system of Likes to a more advanced one that allows Thanks and Dislikes as well.

Is there any guidance available on how the 'Dislikes' are meant to be used and interpreted?

PS: I note that some posters are already routinely both Liking and Thanking for posts; but it's not possible to both 'Thank' a poster and 'Dislike' their post. What if we want to thank the messenger but express a dislike for the message?

[emsr2d2]

Is that a likely scenario? I don't generally thank people for saying something I didn't like. "Thanks" here surely isn't a form of "Thanks for your opinion" but it's "Thanks for helping". If the post isn't useful or helpful, I can't see it getting any thanks.

[Tdol]

People seem to be using it for something they disagree with or think is wrong, which makes sense to me.

[emsr2d2]

I can see some ambiguity. I use the "Like" button when I mean "I agree". However, if I disagree with a post purely on usage grounds (for example, an AmE vs BrE difference), I would simply write a new post explaining why I disagree and giving my opinion. If I actually think that the post contains something blatantly incorrect in any variant of English, I would hit "Dislike" but go on to make another post. I think I am unlikely to hit Disagree but make no further comment.

[Raymott]

Is that a likely scenario? I don't generally thank people for saying something I didn't like. "Thanks" here surely isn't a form of "Thanks for your opinion" but it's "Thanks for helping". If the post isn't useful or helpful, I can't see it getting any thanks.

Yes, maybe it wouldn't occur here often. The concept, however, is quite natural to me. If I sent a message saying "Your tests are back. You have cancer", or "Your car is ready; the repairs cost $2,500", this is something that could be both thanked and disliked. One possible scenario here would be a message saying "We've tried everything to restore 'Likes' applying to posts rather than to thread titles in the notifications, but unfortunately the march of progress means that that isn't possible."

[JMurray]

not a teacher

I would hit "Disagree" but go on to make another post.

I must admit that I can't see any purpose in the "Dislike" option.
I understand your point, emsr2d2, but in fact it's not a "Disagree" but a "Dislike" button. If I disagree with an opinion, it seems to me that the best option is to post a reply. If I post a reply with a differing opinion I don't see the need to say that I "Dislike" the original post.

As the vast majority of people, including learners, respond here in a genuine attempt to help, I imagine it could be quite discouraging to have native speakers "Dislike" your post, when all that's required is a clear explanation of the error and a referral to the guidelines. I think that such situations have been handled well in the past without the need to pointedly "Dislike" somebody's efforts.

If somebody genuinely dislikes a post because they find it offensive or culturally insensitive etc, then there is the "report post" option. I have never reported a post but on the rare occasions that a post has seemed problematic to me, again, I have found that the moderators have handled these situations promptly and well.

[Tdol]

I'll see if we can change it to Disagree.

[Tdol]

We have changed it to Disagree, and made the buttons less wordy.
I don't think we can change the display of the page about Likes given and received- there don't appear to be any options to remove Likes or Thanks given from the list.

[Tdol]

but it's not possible to both 'Thank' a poster and 'Dislike' their post. What if we want to thank the messenger but express a dislike for the message?

It is now possible to Thank and Disagree.

[Tdol]

And the display of who has thanked, etc, is taking up less screen space.